Steve Bruce will welcome back a clutch of players for the trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Paul Dummett, Jetro Willems, Ciaran Clark, Andy Carroll and Miguel Almiron all return this weekend but the game comes too soon for Allan Saint-Maximin and Jonjo Shelvey.
Fabian Schar has also been ruled out and DeAndre Yedlin has picked up a knee knock with the US international requiring a late check.
Bruce hopes that the French winger and Toon midfielder will be back in contention next week.
Bruce said: "We are counting bodies at the moment.
"I said it was ridiculous from the start (the fixture list).
"This is the consequence of it.
"It is what it is, but we have to get on with it."
Bruce was also asked about transfers with a third of the January window behind us.
Bruce said: "We have to have people who will improve us.
"I think everybody finds it difficult. There have been one or two sensational ones down the years, usually teams don't want to sell.
"It is a difficult market. What you end up doing is looking at players who have fallen out with somebody."
